Arizona Center for Nature Conservation
Also known as The Phoenix Zoo
Arizona Center for Nature Conservation reported $64.0 million in revenue and $46.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.71 went to program services, $9.00 to management and general costs and $8.29 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 58.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $684,831 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 116% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $47MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $64MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.7% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.3% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.16 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 38.2% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 58.5% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $684,831 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.47% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 23 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 30.7 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 29 of 29 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAcnc operates the phoenix zoo, a 126-acre zoological park, within papago park, with over 3,000 animals in exhibitions, and participates in worldwide species survival plans. Through ecosystem exhibition, education and conservation, the zoo serves visitors with a mission to provide experiences that inspire people and motivate them to care for the natural world. With a focus on experiential learning, the zoo also conducts a variety of educational activities with children as their primary audience to emphasize caring relationships, personal responsibility, and action to conserve animals and…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $527,766 | $0 | $157,065 | $684,831 |
| COO /CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $377,489 | $0 | $45,847 | $423,336 |
| SVP OF ANIMAL HEALTH & CO Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $344,062 | $0 | $52,061 | $396,123 |
| CAO Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $301,486 | $0 | $38,236 | $339,722 |
| SVP CONSERVATION & EDUCATI Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $268,180 | $0 | $52,056 | $320,236 |
| SVP OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $275,498 | $0 | $43,284 | $318,782 |
| VP OF MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $216,675 | $0 | $50,377 | $267,052 |
| VP OF FINANCE & ACCOUNTING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $215,247 | $0 | $39,799 | $255,046 |
23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Arizona Center for Nature Conservation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.3M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b29 · 29 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5683
- Volunteers Part I, line 6360
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| WDM ARCHITECTS PA Construction | $1,138,387 |
| LANETERRALEVER LLC Marketing | $1,064,600 |
| LUKENS COMPANY Membership mailing & list services | $835,065 |
| MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES INC Construction | $666,830 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 22 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
12 private foundations reported grants to Arizona Center for Nature Conservation totaling $468K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Arizona Center for Nature Conservation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Arizona Center for Nature Conservation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Arizona Center for Nature Conservation spent in FY2025, $82.71 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Fort Worth Zoological AssociationFort Worth, TX · revenue $62M · programs 78.5% · FY2025
- Detroit Zoological SocietyRoyal Oak, MI · revenue $64M · programs 84.8% · 2024
- Audubon Nature InstituteNew Orleans, LA · revenue $61M · programs 67.9% · 2024
- Governors Island CorporationNew York, NY · revenue $65M · programs 85.8% · FY2025
- San Antonio Zoological SocietySan Antonio, TX · revenue $61M · programs 88.8% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Arizona Center for Nature Conservation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation reported that 82.7% of its $46.6 million in expenses went to program services, 9.0% to management and general and 8.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Arizona Center for Nature Conservation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Arizona Center for Nature Conservation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $684,831, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Arizona Center for Nature Conservation get its money?
Of $64.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 38.2% came from contributions and grants and 58.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Arizona Center for Nature Conservation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 86-0174843 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202631349349313053 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541349349312249 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441369349307239 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321359349317287 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201339349305410 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131359349300708 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 86-0174843: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.